Transportation Secretary Backs Capital Bill

Macomb, IL – Illinois Transportation Secretary Tim Martin spoke in Macomb to drum up support for the governor's proposed capital spending bill. Martin told the audience the bill would provide more than $2 billion for road projects including four-laning part of Route 34 and a bypass around Macomb. Martin said unless the state buys bonds fund the capital spending bill, it could lose much more money that was allotted to it in the most recent federal transportation bill. He said unless the state provides the match money, it will have to leave federal dollars on the table. The capital bill also includes more than $500 million for school construction and $425 million to match federal grants for transit systems.